Velours Haïtien – Specialty coffee

Velours Haïtien is much more than a coffee: it’s an encounter with a terroir, a heritage and an authentic, deeply human coffee culture. This rare specialty coffee is grown in the mountainous areas of Haiti, between 1,200 and 1,400 metres above sea level, where clouds cling to tropical peaks and coffee trees flourish under the natural shade of banana and fruit trees. On this rich, fertile land, nourished by ancient volcanic soils and a temperate climate, coffee beans slowly develop subtle, refined aromas, carried by a still-preserved ecosystem.

The name Velours Haïtien was not chosen at random. It evokes the incredibly soft texture of this coffee, its roundness in the mouth, and the finesse of its aromas, which unfold delicately with each sip. Right from the grind, the nose is charmed by an elegant olfactory palette of ripe yellow fruits – such as peach and apricot – orange blossom, forest honey and a discreet vanilla note, the natural signature of the Haitian terroir. In a cup, this composition becomes a veritable sensory tableau: a soft attack, a fluid, balanced palate, and a delicate, floral, soothing length.

Unlike more intense or dark-roasted coffees, Velours Haïtien plays in the register of subtlety, harmony and tenderness. It doesn’t try to impress through strength, but through precision. It’s a coffee to be savored slowly, with care, and reveals its full character in gentle methods such as the V60, Chemex or French press. It is also perfectly suited to a light espresso, for those who prefer a short but balanced extraction, without aggressive acidity or marked bitterness.

This coffee is the fruit of rigorous work, rooted in reasoned and fair farming. The Haitian growers of the Typica and Bourbon varieties are grouped into cooperatives, respecting natural cycles and using no chemical inputs, with a gradual conversion to organic farming. Harvesting is done by hand, cherry by cherry, only at optimum ripeness. This care, this human rhythm, is then reflected in the treatment of the grain: a washed process, followed by rapid fermentation, then natural drying in the sun on African beds. These steps are essential to preserve the aromatic clarity, smoothness and transparent taste of the coffee.

Once the beans have been dried, they are sent to France to be hand-roasted to a medium profile. This gentle roasting is designed to reveal all the natural complexity of the bean, without masking its subtleties. It gives the coffee a luminous brown color, a dry, homogeneous bean, and above all, a well-balanced, aromatic cup.

But Velours Haïtien is also a story of connection. A link between land and people, between tradition and the future, between Haiti and the rest of the world. This coffee is part of a new generation of Haitian specialty coffees, which reaffirm the richness of a country too often reduced to its difficulties. In fact, Haiti has one of the oldest coffee heritages in the Caribbean, with pure varieties and an exceptional mountain farming environment. Bringing this terroir back into the limelight also recognizes the talent, resilience and passion of the small-scale producers who work behind the scenes to produce clean, good, meaningful coffee.

In a world where coffee is often standardized, industrialized and formatted to suit globalized tastes, Velours Haïtien offers a breath of fresh air, a sincere, soothing alternative. It’s a coffee that tells a story. A coffee that respects the seasons, the hands that cultivate it, the palates that savor it. It’s not about performance, it’s about emotion. It doesn’t push intensity to the detriment of finesse. He prefers to suggest rather than impose.

This is what makes Velours Haïtien a true specialty coffee: not only because it meets strict technical criteria (traceability, bean quality, absence of defects, clear aromatic profile), but above all because it has a soul. A history. An identity of its own, rooted in its origins. And you can feel it in your mouth: each cup becomes an encounter, a suspended, almost meditative moment.

It’s a coffee for the curious, the sensitive, the lovers of taste, but also for professionals in search of ethical, original and refined novelties. It fits perfectly into a coffee shop menu of specialty coffees, and can be served as a tasting or paired with artisanal sweets. It is also suitable for demanding individuals looking to broaden their palate and discover new taste horizons.

Velours Haïtien is finally an invitation to re-evaluate our relationship with coffee. To get away from automatic, fast, over-sweetened or overloaded consumption. To get back to basics: a well-grown, well-treated, well-roasted bean, respected from field to cup.

In this, it is true to what every true specialty coffee should be: a product of the soil, a bearer of human values, sensorially rich, and deeply rooted in its environment. A coffee that is not simply drunk, but listened to, observed and shared.

Product features

• Origin: Haiti

• Altitude: Over 2000 metres

• Variety: 100% Arabica

• Type of cultivation: No chemical inputs, environmentally friendly

• Process: Washed

• Roasting: Artisanal (France)

• SCA score: 88/100, a guarantee of excellence in specialty coffee

• Flavours: Yellow fruit, honey, orange blossom, hint of natural vanilla

• Tasting profile: Elegant, silky, tropical, without excessive intensity.

• Acidity: Light and fruity – well-balanced

• Bitterness: Very low – smooth, digestible coffee

• Sourcing: Direct from the producer for total traceability

• Treatment: Washed, guaranteeing purity and clarity of aromas

• Grinding: Whole bean, filter, espresso, piston

Directions for use

To bring out the full aromatic sweetness of Velours Haïtien, use gentle extraction methods:

• Medium to coarse grind for Chemex, V60, French press

• Fine grind for mild espresso (manual or automatic machine)

• Water temperature: 91-93°C

• Recommended ratio: 6 g coffee per 100 ml water

• Tip: use filtered water to avoid off-flavours

Velours Haïtien is an ideal coffee at any time of day, especially in the morning or late afternoon, for a calm, aromatic moment.

Gourmet tips for Haitian Velvet

Thanks to its floral and fruity notes, Velours Haïtien goes very well with simple, refined sweets. Here are a few ideas to enrich your tasting experience:

Brioche toast with citrus jam

A gentle classic that brings out the finesse of the coffee.

Greek yogurt, honey & nuts

The fat of the yoghurt reinforces the velvety texture of the coffee, while the honey echoes the natural aromas of the beans.

Pear & vanilla crumble

A perfect match for the fruity, floral aromas of Velours Haïtien.

Orange blossom cake

The floral aromas of the cake extend those of the coffee for a harmonious tasting experience.

White chocolate square

In contrast to a mild espresso, white chocolate brings out the fullness and vanilla flavour of the coffee.